Braff was a wonderfully characterful and melodic player with an immediately identifiable sound and unique tone on the cornet, an uncommon instrument in post-war jazz. He style was fundamentally based on that of earlier players including Louis Armstrong, Bobby Hackett and Bunny Berigan but he transcended these influences to always sounds fresh, sparky and somehow modern.
He was born in Boston and began playing in local clubs in the 1940s. In 1949, he was hired to play with the Edmond Hall Orchestra. He relocated to New York in 1953 where he was much in demand for band dates and recordings.
He died February 10, 2003, in Chatham, Massachusetts.
"Sure, they’ve made statements about my supposedly combining a modern approach with a feeling for traditional forms. Well, people say all sorts of things, because they want to categorise and label. I’ve only ever had two labels. Either it’s good or it stinks." - Ruby Braff speaking in 1968
When It's Sleepy Time Down South
Ruby Braff Lyrics
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Why should ev'rybody pity me,
Nighttime's falling, folks are a singin',
they dance till break of day
Dear Old Southland with it's dreamy songs
Takes me back there where I belong
How I'd love to be in mammy's arms
When It's Sleepy Time Down South
The lyrics of Ruby Braff's "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" capture the feelings of homesickness and loneliness experienced by a person who is away from the familiar surroundings of their home in the South. The opening lines of the song, "Homesick tired All alone in a big city / Why should ev'rybody pity me," convey the singer's sense of alienation and being misplaced in a crowded urban environment.
As the night falls, the singer hears people singing and dancing, and these sounds remind them of the dreamy and relaxing atmosphere of the South. The urgency of the singing and dancing is a stark contrast to the singer's feeling of longing for the slower pace of Southern life. The refrain of the song, "How I'd love to be in mammy's arms / When It's Sleepy Time Down South," expresses the singer's deep yearning for the comforting embrace of family and the familiar surroundings of their childhood.
The lyrics of "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" are a poignant reminder of the power of place and the hold that one's home and memories can have over one's emotions. The song is a tribute to the cultural identity and traditions of the Southern region of the United States and a reflection on the complex feelings evoked by nostalgia and longing for home.
Line by Line Meaning
Homesick tired All alone in a big city
Feeling weighed down by longing and exhaustion, completely isolated among the populated metropolis
Why should ev'rybody pity me,
Rhetorical question asked to dispel any unwarranted sympathy from others towards the singer's state of being
Nighttime's falling, folks are a singin',
As darkness descends, people are singing, creating an atmosphere of merriment
they dance till break of day
They keep dancing till daybreak
Dear Old Southland with it's dreamy songs
Fond memories of Southland come alive with its mesmerizing melodies
Takes me back there where I belong
The ambiance of Southland takes the artist back to the time where their heart belonged
How I'd love to be in mammy's arms
Yearning to be cushioned in mother's love and protection.
When It's Sleepy Time Down South
When the Southland is embraced in slumber.
Lyrics © OTIS RENE PUBLICATIONS, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CLARENCE MUSE, LEON RENE, OTIS RENE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind